You can never have too many corpses, don't create too many coincidences and 50,000 words is more than enough to write a good crime story – these are just some of the tips that Agatha Christie gives to future or current writers on BBC Maestro. Brought to life by AI, she introduces those willing to a bloody world of murder, jealousy and intrigue.
No one asked for such a course, but everyone probably needed it, even if they were not professional or aspiring writers. BBC Studio and Agatha Christie's heirs decided to “shoot” a writing course (not only crime novels) led by the most famous British author (right up there with JK Rowling). Thanks to actress Vivien Keene and AI, you can see the queen of crime novels on screen, sharing advice using the same words she used in interviews or letters from almost a century ago.
According to the creators, meticulously restored interviews, private letters and writings researched by experts form this pioneering course, which is presented by Christie’s reconstructed voice. “She guides participants through the art of suspense, plot twists and unforgettable characters,” adds James Prichard, the author’s great-grandson and manager of her intellectual property at Agatha Christie Limited.
“She was an icon of British storytelling. The idea of using AI ethically and thoughtfully is both a way to honour her legacy and to showcase her genius in a fresh way for a new generation. It's wonderful,” said BBC Studios CEO of Brands and Licensing Nicki Sheard in The Hollywood Reporter.
Smilingly recalling the casting, actress Viviene Keene, who beat hundreds of actresses, points out that she got the job based on biometrics, specifically the shape of her face. “It was different from anything I'd done before,” she points out. “Agatha Christie wasn't filmed from the side, and there are very few shots of her. Fortunately, the artificial intelligence managed to handle that,” she adds.
The actress's voice is not even close to that of the crime writer, and technology has also taken care of that. The actress's task was primarily to try to imitate its rhythm. “Her voice is quite characteristic: shy and feisty at the same time. She also didn't like giving interviews,” she notes.
The Agatha Christie Writing Course consists of 11 lessons and 12 exercises, lasting a total of 2.5 hours.
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